K.G. Sports Link

09/17/2017

This article is all about how to set goals and how to track progress.

"If you want to crush your goals, you have to write them down. It’s really that simple. Research suggests that people who write out their goals regularly are 42% more likely to meet them...Some researchers describe writing down goals and tracking progress as the most effective technique for changing behaviour. It’s often referred to as the cornerstone of making lasting change."

If you want to crush your goals, you have to write them down. It’s really that simple.Research suggests that people who write out their goals regularly are 42% more likely to meet them. If you’re not writing things down, you’re missing a huge opportunity.

09/17/2017

Back to school for many people also means getting back to a physically active routine! This ParticipACTION article includes several good tips. For example, renew your commitment and mark it in your calendar --like you would for an important appointment -- and tell your friends so you just have to start scheduling other things around it.

Also, start with small steps but keep them frequent and consistent. Having a reliable trigger helps so schedule the physical activity immediately after something you already do, such as right after you get home from work.

Our favourite quote from this article?

"You’re not always going to feel motivated and that’s okay. That’s why focusing on forming a habit is so important. Because once it becomes a habit, once it becomes a normal part of your routine, you won’t need motivation. You’ll just do it because it’s what you do."

Let’s be serious – summertime is spectacular. Hiking in the woods. Relaxing at the cottage. Socializing on the patio. It’s all pretty great. But one unfortunate downside is that your active routines can quickly go out the window. That’s why September is all about getting back in the groove.

09/01/2017

08/17/2017

Valuable advice for parents looking for a daycare. This article shares questions to ask regarding physical activity and also suggests ways to advocate for your child's physical literacy!

Start by asking the right questions

03/26/2017

"I realize I might be painting an overdramatic picture of a half-hour group swimming lesson, but I felt very proud as I witnessed my kids’ efforts from afar. Of course, many of the parents seated around me missed the nuances of their child’s progress, because they were looking at their screens instead."

If you ask any parent what is more important to them, their child or their smartphone, the answer would be automatic. We love our children so deeply that to even ask a question like that is ridiculous and laughable.But as I observe my fellow parents at the playground or in the stands at youth sports...

02/28/2017

Learning how to ski can be a life lesson for perseverance. Here are some great bits of conversation from elementary school students visiting Chicopee Ski Club in Kitchener, Ontario.

"Skiing is hard!" one seventh-grader exclaimed. Her classmate quickly replied with, "It isn't hard. You just have to get up."

A fourth-grader grinned and said, "It's easy. You just have to keep trying!"

02/09/2017

We think it's fabulous that researchers in Hamilton, Ontario are studying health-related fitness in preschoolers. Sharing updated information on this topic brought to you by McMaster University's Child Health & Exercise Medicine Program.

Welcome to our 20th issue! Health-related fitness is an important part of health for toddlers and preschoolers. Find out how we measure health-related fitness in young kids. Brought to you by the Child Health & Exercise Medicine Program at McMaster University.

01/14/2017

The power of sport expressed concisely and beautifully.

12/20/2016

“Coach,” he said, “I just wanted to let you know that I am studying for my medical school exams, and it is really hard. But every time I want to put down my books, or if I am in the gym working out, I think of you coaching our team. I picture you telling us “Is that the best you can do? Can’t you do one more? Can’t you do it a bit better?’ and I keep going.”

That phone call taught John O'Sullivan about the influence and impact a coach's words and actions have on kids. It changed his life. He founded the Changing the Game Project in 2012, which promotes a child-centred approach to youth sport. He shares his thoughts in this very interesting article.

A coach’s mea culpa